What do accountholders really want in terms of rewards programs? Two things: cash and customer service. According to the Q4 National Banking Opinion Poll, 61% of Americans stated they would switch to a new institution if it provided them with a cash back rewards program. But what good are those programs if an institution can’t back them up with the kind of customer service that gives accountholders peace of mind when opening a rewards checking account?

There are no one-size fits all overdraft privilege programs. Each overdraft privilege program needs to be unique to your financial institution and provide your staff with proper training. Through reasonable fees, expectations and conservative overdraft limits, your financial institution can provide accountholders with a valuable customer service they appreciate.

Hi, I’m Joe Gillen CEO and Founder of Pinnacle Financial Strategies. In the interests of full disclosure, we at Pinnacle provide community banks and credit unions with consumer-focused overdraft programs that are successful, efﬁcient, and 100% compliant. We believe that consumers deserve the freedom to choose an overdraft privilege product that is fairly administered, delivers real value and provides a genuine consumer service, and is a useful tool in dealing with unexpected financial challenges.

By Julie Story, Executive Vice President of Pinnacle Financial StrategiesAs a segment of the market that is underserved by the large national and regional banks, local businesses present a wealth of opportunity for community banks.